Delayed 2009 Pandemic Influenza A Virus Subtype H1N1 Circulation in West Africa, May 2009-April 2010

• Published in: The Journal of infectious diseases Vol. 206; no. suppl_1; pp. S101 - S107
• Main Authors: Nzussouo, Ndahwouh Talla, Michalove, Jennifer, Diop, Ousmane M., Njouom, Richard, de Lourdes Monteiro, Maria, Adje, Herve Kadjo, Manoncourt, Serge, Amankwa, Joseph, Koivogui, Lamine, Sow, Samba, Elkory, Mohamed Brahim, Collard, Jean-Marc, Dalhatu, Ibrahim, Niang, Mbayame Ndiaye, Lafond, Kathryn, Moniz, Filomena, Coulibaly, Daouda, Kronman, Karl C., Oyofo, Buhari A., Ampofo, William, Tamboura, Boubou, Bara, Ahmed Ould, Jusot, Jean-François, Ekanem, Ekanem, Sarr, Fatoumata Diène, Hwang, Inzune, Cornelius, Claire, Coker, Babajide, Lindstrom, Stephen, Davis, Richard, Dueger, Erica, Moen, Ann, Widdowson, Marc-Alain
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Oxford University Press 15-12-2012
• Subjects: Adult; Africa, Western; Africa, Western - epidemiology; Bacteriology; Capital cities; Child; Child, Preschool; Countries; Disease transmission; H1N1 subtype influenza A virus; Human health and pathology; Humans; Infant; Infectious diseases; Influenza A virus; Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype; Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype - isolation & purification; Influenza, Human; Influenza, Human - epidemiology; Influenza, Human - virology; Life Sciences; Medical research; Microbiology and Parasitology; Orthomyxoviridae; Pandemics; Santé publique et épidémiologie; Specimens; Surveillance; Time Factors; WEST AFRICA; Africa, Western; North America; Cameroon; Africa
• ISSN: 0022-1899; 1537-6613
• DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jis572

To understand 2009 pandemic influenza A virus subtype H1N1 (A[H1N1] pdm09) circulation in West Africa, we collected influenza surveillance data from ministries of health and influenza laboratories in 10 countries, including Cameroon, from 4 May 2009 through 3 April 2010. A total of 10 203 respiratory specimens were tested, of which 25% were positive for influenza virus. Until the end of December 2009, only 14% of all detected strains were A(H1N1) pdm09, but the frequency increased to 89% from January through 3 April 2010. Five West African countries did not report their first A(H1N1) pdm09 case until 6 months after the emergence of the pandemic in North America, in April 2009. The time from first detection of A(H1N1) pdm09 in a country to the time of A(H1N1) pdm09 predominance varied from 0 to 37 weeks. Seven countries did not report A(H1N1) pdm09 predominance until 2010. Introduction and transmission of A(H1N1) pdm09 were delayed in this region.